Spring-wheel.



PATENTED NOV. 2'7, 1906.

J. H. KBNNEBREW. SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION PILED.PEB.28,1906.

witnesses 'UNITED STATES PATEN .JOHN H. KENNEBREW, or COLUMBUS, ivn'ssissirri. I SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented v. 27, 1906.

Application filed February 28, 1906. Serial No. 303,511.

To all whom, it ntwy concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN H. KEnNEBREW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county ofLowndes and State of Mississippi, have invented a certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved vehicle-wheel which is so designed .as to do away with pneumatic tires and derive-its elasticity from spring members forming a part of the spokes.

The object of the invention is to provide the spokes with springs which are connected thereto in such a manner as to enable the tension therein to be adjusted to the required amount and also to providemeans for preventing the parts from Working loose under the constant vibration incurred by the use of the wheel.

With these objects in view the invention consists, essentially, in forming the spokes in two sections,.the said sections being adjustably connected by means of aaspring member and being also provided with means for preventing the parts from working loose.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a wheel construct'ed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the spokes, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the outer section of the spoke and a portion of the connecting spring.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the folly or; rim of the wheel,.which may be of any suitable construction and is rovided with a number of countersunk spo e-receiving openings 2, and 3 is the hub, which is preferably formed with an outwardly-extending flange 4 at each end thereof. The spokes 5, which connect the folly and they hub, are formed in two sections, the inner section 6 being connected to the hub, While the outer section is connected to the rim. For this purpose the inner section 6 has one'end thereof bent at approximately right angles and provided with a knob 8 so as to engage with the openings in *endsof the spoke-sections.

In the practical construction of *felly and the flanges 4 in the usual manner. The outer sections 7 of the spokes are passed through the openings 2 in the felly l and are provided with heads 9, which fit in the countersunk portions of the openings and are so formed as to engage closely therewith when the spokes are in position. The two sections of the spokes are connected by means of coilsprings 10, which are so formed as to gradually decrease in cross-section toward the ends thereof, where they terminate in internallythreaded sleeves 11. The sleeves 11 at the opposite ends of the'springs are provided with right and left hand threads, respectively, and are adapted to cooperate with corresponding threads upon the adjacent When thus constructed, it will be apparent that after the spoke-sections have been placed in position the spring member can be readily connected thereto and the required tension produced therein by grasping the spring member with the hand and turning it in the necessary direction' In order to prevent the springsections from working loose, jam-nuts 12 are located upon the threaded portions of the spoke-sections and are adapted to be turned into engagement with the sleeves 11, so as to effectively lock the same against turning.

the'spokes it is desirable that the threaded ends thereof be upset or given a slightly-enlarged crosssection, as seen at 13, in order that the threaded connection may not detract from the strength. may be of any suitable type, they are preferably of a helical formation and are larger at the middle portion than at the ends, so that the various portions thereof will be enabled While the spring members 10- to operate freely and will not interfere with each other.

While I have described the spokes as being employed in connection with a specific form of hub and felly, it will be understood that the main feature of the invention resides in the peculiar method of placing the spring members in the spokes and that they may be employed with eqnalfacility in, connection with any type of hub or felly.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new 1. In a springewheel, the combination of a hub, a felll'y, spokes connecting the hub and "ormed in two sections,'-the adjacent ends of the spoke-sections being enlarged, and provided with threads, spring members joining the spoke-sections and formed at their ends with internally-thread l ed sleeves which engage With the threaded l ends of the spokes, and jam-nuts mounted l upon the spokes and adapted to engage With the sleeves.

2. In a spring-Wheel, the combination of a hub, a felly, spokes connecting the hub and felly and formed in two sections, the adjacent ends of the spoke-sections being enlarged and provided with threads, While the opposite end of the outer section passes through the felly and is provided with a head which engages with the opening therein, and the opposite end of the inner section is detachably connected to the hub, spring members jointoward the ends thereof, and

ing the spoke-sections and provided at their opposite ends with internally threaded sleeves which engage With the threaded ends of the spokes, the said springs being of a helieal formation and 'tapering in cross-section 1' am nuts mounted upon the spoke-sections and adapt ed to engage With the internally-threaded sleeves.

In testimony whereof I ail-1X my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN H.1(ENNEBREW. [11. 3.1 

